In the Midst of Winter (Spanish: Más allá del invierno) is a 2017 novel by Chilean author Isabel Allende. It is the twenty-third book by Allende, who has made a name for herself as one of the eminent writers of magical realism.[1] She is widely considered a preeminent Latin-American female author and her books, advocating feminist rights and the end of patriarchy in Latin America show her own struggles.[2] In the Midst of Winter, follows the same pattern as her previous books, based on political injustice, the art of survival and most of all the need for love.[3] The story is set in Brooklyn, New York City during a snowstorm, where a lonely university professor hits the car of an undocumented young Guatemalan. At first only an accident, things spiral out of control when the woman shows up at the professor's home to seek help. The professor, takes the help of his tenant, a fellow academic from Chile, as the unlikely trio embark on a journey of uncovering truth and discovering love.[4]
 First edition | |
| Author | Isabel Allende |
|---|---|
| Original title | Más allá del invierno |
| Language | Spanish |
| Subject | Hispanic culture, Literary fiction |
| Genre | Fiction, Romance, Magical Realism |
| Set in | Brooklyn, New York City |
| Published | October 31, 2017 |
| Publisher | Plaza & Janés Atria Books |
| Publication place | Chile |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback) |
| Pages | 352 |
| ISBN | 978-1501178139 |
Plot synopsis
editThe story starts when during the biggest snowstorm Brooklyn has ever seen, a lonely University professor Richard Bowmaster, accidentally hitting the car of an undocumented immigrants from Guatemala - Evelyn Ortega. This accident, which at first appeared to be a minor inconvenience, takes a major turn when Evelyn shows up at Richard's place seeking help.[5] Not knowing what to do, Richard recruits his tenant, a fellow academic from Chile - Lucia Maraz - in order to solve Evelyn's plight. As the story progresses, it is discovered that Evelyn found the corpse of a dead woman in the boot of her boss's car. So now Lucia, Richard and Evelyn embark on a road trip which slowly unveils each of their pasts.[6] Evelyn's trauma of coming from a country where she survived the murder of her brothers in gang violence and sexual assault, Lucia's struggling to return to Chile, which she has prior left due to its risks. In the meantime, Richard struggling to find love and relationships as a result of trauma from personal losses during his marriage to a Brazilian woman from his time in Rio de Janeiro, which he blames on himself.[7] As the book progresses, Evelyn gradually overcomes her trauma, while Richard and Lucia bond together. The book ends with Richard quoting the line from Albert Camus poem, Invincible Summer, "In the midst of winter, I finally found there was within me an invincible summer".[8]
Reception
editIn the midst of winter was a New York Times bestseller. Although mostly positive, some critics were unimpressed by the venture of this book. According to Financial Times, "this novel almost bends under the weight of history but never breaks".[9] According to The Washington Post "there's a neatness to this story that the standards of romantic comedy demand but the history of these characters won't allow."[10]
References
edit- ^ "Isabel Allende | Databases Explored". www.gale.com. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
- ^ "Isabel Allende: 'Everyone called me crazy for divorcing in my 70s. I've never been scared of being alone'". the Guardian. 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
- ^ Allende, Isabel (2017-10-31). In the Midst of Winter. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5011-8326-3.
- ^ "Isabel Allende - In the midst of winter". www.isabelallende.com. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
- ^ "In The Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende — spaces between us". Financial Times. 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
- ^ IN THE MIDST OF WINTER | Kirkus Reviews.
- ^ "a book review by Janet Levine: In the Midst of Winter: A Novel". www.nyjournalofbooks.com. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
- ^ Winkler, Elizabeth (2018-01-19). "From Isabel Allende, a Novel of Three Immigrants and a Brooklyn Misadventure". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
- ^ "In The Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende — spaces between us". Financial Times. 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
- ^ Charles, Ron (November 21, 2017). "It's a snowy day in Brooklyn, and there's love in the air — and a body in the trunk". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 10, 2022.